Antispreader.



' W. BARNETT. ANTISPREADER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1910.

985,881. Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

awuwwboz ll TE WHEELER BARNETT, 0F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

ANTISPREADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. '7, 1911.

Application filed June 16, 1910. Serial No. 567,316.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, "VHEELER BARNETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antispreaders, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a rail-tie, and has for its object to provide adevice of this character which will prevent the spreading of rails andwhich may be conveniently connected with the rails, after said railshave been properly gaged and secured to the ties.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tie-bar upon which areadjustably mounted members to engage the rails, in combination withnovel means to urge such members into engagement with said rails.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter, which is simple in construction, positive in its operationand cheap to manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, Figure 1 is aside view of the rail-tie, Fi 2 is a fragmentarydetail View of one end of the rail-tie, and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectiontaken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of myinvention, the numeral 1 designates a tie-bar as a whole, which isformed as shown, with horizontal end pieces 2 and a central crankportion 3. Upon each of the end pieces 2, are movably .mounted pairs ofbraces 4:, as shown. The braces 4 are formed alike and each is providedwith an upwardly extending nose 5, to engage a rail 6. Each of thebraces 4 is provided with longitudinally disposed slots 7, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, for the reception of bolts 8, which are connected withthe end piece 2. The bolts are provided with washers and nuts 9 and 10,respectively.

From the above construction as described, it is obvious that the nuts 10may be unscrewed and the brace 4: moved longitudinally so that its nose5 will firmly engage the rail 6, and then said nuts may be screwed up toclamp the brace to the end piece 2.

Novel means is provided to effect the proper longitudinal movement ofthe brace, such means comprising a cam 11, which is pivotally connectedwith the end piece 2 by means of a bolt 12. As shown in Fig. 1, a cam 11is disposed adjacent the outer end of each of the braces 4:, so thatsaid braces may be moved toward the rails 6. As shown in Fig. 2, theouter end of each of the braces 4, is provided with a curved recess 13,within which the cam is adapted to operate. It is obvious that when thecam 11 is rotated in a proper direction, it will effect the longitudinalmovement of the brace 41. Each of the cams 11 is provided with a handle14:, as shown. In order that each of the braces 4 may be securely lookedin a desired position upon its end piece 2, I provide said brace and endpiece with transverse grooves formed upon their lower and upper wallsrespectively, and these grooves form engaging teeth 15, which are squarein cross-section as shown. When the brace 4 is moved to its desiredposition by the cam 11, the

brace 1 may be clamped to its end piece, as above described, and saidbrace will be securely locked in its clamped position by virtue of theinter-fitting teeth 15.

In the use of my rail-tie, the same is placed below the rails, as shownin Fig. 1, and the braces 4 are properly adjusted by means of the cams11 until their noses 5. engage the rails 6. The braces 4 are then lockedin their adjusted position, as above described, and the device will thenprevent the spread ing of the rails.

I wish it understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatcertain changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a tie-bar, of abrace movably mounted thereon, acam to effect the movement of said brace, and means to lock said bracein a desired position upon said tie-bar.

2. The combination with a tie-bar, of a brace longitudinally movablymounted thereon, a cam pivotally connected with said tiebar to engageone end of said brace, and means to lock said brace and tie-bartogether.

3. The combination with a tie-bar, of a brace longitudinally movablymounted thereon, said brace having one end thereof provided with acurved recess a cam pivotally connected with said tie bar to engage thewall of said curved recess, and means to lock said brace in a rigidposit-ion to said tie-bar.

4. The combination with a tie-bar, of a brace movably mounted thereon,said brace being provided with longitudinally disposed slots, boltsconnected with said tie-bar and disposed within said slots, and a campivotally connected with said tie-bar to engage one end of said brace.

5. The combination with a tiebar of a brace longitudinally movablymounted thereon, a cam pivotally connected with said tiebar to effectsuch longitudinal movement of the brace, means to clamp the brace to thetie-bar, and said brace and tie-bar being provided with cooperatingtransverse teeth. 6. The combination with a tie-bar, of pairs of bracesmovably mounted upon the ends of the same, and cams pivotally connectedwith said tie-bar to move said braces. 7. The combination with atie-bar, of pairs of braces longitudinally movably mounted upon the endsof the same, cams pivotally connected with said tie-bar to effect suchlongitudinal movement of said braces, and means to lock said braces andtie-bar together.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

lVHEELER BARNETT. WVitnesses J. H. DUNKINs, J. A. DINWIDDIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of I'atents, Washington, D. C.

